Roaring River Falls

Roaring River Falls is a 40-foot waterfall in the Cedar Grove end of Kings Canyon. Roaring River flows from Deadman and Cloud canyons in the wilderness, then squeezes through a narrow chute into a pool. It’s a worthwhile quick stop on Highway 180, especially in late spring and early summer, when the falls are at their loudest and strongest.

A 0.1-mile paved path leads from the small lot to the waterfall views. It’s wide, but the grades rise as high as 12%, and the path ends at a small paved landing. One designated accessible space sits directly in front of the trail. The distance is short; the slope may still be difficult if steep grades are a problem for you.

The water funnels through a tight rock chute before dropping into the pool. From the paved landing, keep the chute and the rock walls around it in your photo; that shows how the river is squeezed through the canyon. There’s no need to scramble down to the water for a closer angle.

The River Trail junction is just by the parking area. From here, it makes a 3.9-mile round trip toward Zumwalt Meadow, crossing creeks and continuing through meadows and shady forest. Do that when you want a longer walk; the falls alone make a good short stop.

The water can look calm, but strong currents below the surface can pull you under, and the rocks are slippery. Don’t enter the pool or climb onto the wet rocks around it.